Definition
Relating to the Olympic Games, the international multi-sport competition held every four years.
Etymology
From Greek 'Olympikos', relating to Olympia, the ancient Greek sanctuary where the original Olympic Games were held from 776 BCE to 394 CE. The modern Olympics were revived by Pierre de Coubertin in 1896.
Kelly Says
The Olympic torch relay isn't an ancient tradition - it was actually invented for the 1936 Berlin Olympics as Nazi propaganda. However, the Olympic flame itself does connect to ancient Greek traditions of keeping sacred fires burning at temples.
Translations
ARالعربية
أولمبي
ʾaw-lam-bī
CACatalà
olímpic
oh-LEE-pee-koh
CSČeština
olympijský
oh-LEE-pee-y-skee
DADansk
olympisk
oh-LEE-pee-sk
DEDeutsch
olympisch
oh-LEEM-pish
ELΕλληνικά
ολυμπιακός
oh-lee-pee-ah-kohs
ESEspañol
olímpico
oh-LEE-pee-koh
FISuomi
olympialainen
oh-LEE-pee-ah-lah-ee-nen
FRFrançais
olympique
oh-leem-PEEK
HAHA
olympic
oh-LEE-pee-koh
HEעברית
אולימפי
oh-lee-pee
HUMagyar
olimpiai
oh-LEE-pee-ee
IDBahasa Indonesia
olympik
oh-LEE-pee-koh
IGIG
olympic
oh-LEE-pee-koh
ITItaliano
olimpico
oh-LEE-pee-koh
KKKK
олимпиялық
oh-LEE-pee-y-lahk
KMKM
អូឡាំងពិក
aolanh-pik
MSBahasa Melayu
olympik
oh-LEE-pee-koh
MYမြန်မာ
အိုလံပစ်
oh-lahn-peat
NLNederlands
olympisch
oh-LEEM-pish
NONorsk
olympisk
oh-LEE-pee-sk
PLPolski
olimpijski
oh-LEE-pee-y-skee
PTPortuguês
olímpico
oh-LEE-pee-koh
RORomână
olimpic
oh-LEE-pee-koh
RUРусский
олимпийский
oh-LEE-pee-y-skee
SVSvenska
olympisk
oh-LEE-pee-sk
SWKiswahili
olimpiki
oh-LEE-pee-kee
TAதமிழ்
ஒலிம்பிக்
olimpik
TEతెలుగు
ఒలింపిక్
olimpik
THไทย
โอลิมปิก
oh-lee-moh-peek
TLTL
olimpiko
oh-LEE-pee-koh
TRTürkçe
olimpik
oh-LEEM-peek
UKУкраїнська
олімпійський
oh-LEE-pee-y-skee
VITiếng Việt
olympic
oh-LEE-pee-koh
YOYO
olympic
oh-LEE-pee-koh
ZUZU
olimpiki
oh-LEE-pee-kee
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Modern Olympics excluded women entirely until 1900; women's events remain fewer, with unequal prize money and media coverage persisting. Language framing ('Olympic men/women') can reinforce separate/unequal narratives.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'Olympic athlete' without gendering unless gender is relevant context. Acknowledge historical and ongoing inequities in Olympic structures.
Inclusive Alternatives
["athlete","competitor"]
Empowerment Note
Female Olympians—Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Katarina Witt—achieved excellence against exclusion and unequal resource allocation. Center their systemic achievement.